Sadia Bashir Industrial Chemistry

Assistant Professor Manufacturing of Nitric Acid

Department of Chemistry

1
Nitric Acid: Hydrogen Nitrate
Nitric Acid is a highly corrosive mineral acid.

Other Names:
• Azotic Acid: written by 19th century chemists, as it contains nitrogen, or
concerned with nitrogen
• Engraver's Acid: as it reacts with metals and used to separate gold and
silver.
• Aqua fortis: (Aqua means water and fortis means strong). Aqua fortis
means strong water. It looks like water and has the same viscosity as water.
Strong water refers to the ability to react with almost all metals. It was
primarily used to separate gold and silver in old ages so it is called aqua
fortis by copper engravers.
• Spirit of Niter: by alchemy, a liquid containing 68 or 70 percent by weight
of absolute nitric acid with the remainder water
History of Nitric Acid:
• Nitric acid has been known to scholars for many centuries. Probably
the earliest description of its synthesis occurs in the writings of the
Arabic alchemist Abu Musa Jabir ibn Hayyan (c. 721–c. 815), better
known by his Latinized name of Geber. The compound was widely
used by the alchemists, although they knew nothing of its chemical
composition.

• It was not until the middle of the seventeenth century that an

improved method for making nitric acid was invented by German
chemist Johann Rudolf Glauber (1604–1670). Glauber produced the
acid by adding concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4) to saltpeter
(potassium nitrate; KNO3).
Physiochemical information of Nitric Acid

Formula : HNO3

Molar mass : 63.01g/mol

Density : 1.51 g/cm3

Boiling point : 83C

Freezing point : -42C

Concentration of Nitric Acid
• Concentrated Nitric Acid: Commercially available nitric acid is an
azeotrope with water at a concentration of 68% HNO3
• Fuming Nitric Acid: If the concentration of nitric acid is more than
86% is called fuming nitric acid.
• Depending on the amount of nitrogen dioxide present, fuming nitric
acid is further characterized as
• Red Fuming Nitric Acid: at concentrations above 86%
• White Fuming Nitric Acid: at concentrations above 95%.
• Anhydrous nitric acid: It is available as 99.9% nitric acid by assay. One
specification for white fuming nitric acid is that it has a maximum of
2% water and a maximum of 0.5% dissolved NO 2.
Concentration of Nitric Acid
Physical Characteristics:
• Highly corrosive in nature
• Colorless, yellow or red fuming liquid
• Suffocating in odor
• Highly miscible in water
• Hygroscopic in nature

Chemical Characteristics:
• Strong oxidizing agent
• highly explosive in nature
• It forms azeotrope having composition 68% Nitric avid and 32% water and
boils at 120.5 degree centigrade.
Reactions of Nitric Acid
Preparation of Nitric Acid
 CHILI SALT PETER,S METHOD
• It is the first commercial method for the
production of nitric acid.
• German chemist Johann Rudolf Glauber
(1604–1670) produced the acid by
heating hydrated copper sulfate or
sulfuric acid with sodium nitrate
(saltpeter or niter) and cooling the vapors
generated to obtain a solution of nitric
acid
• This method is now obsolete since
second decade of nineteenth century
 Birkeland–Eyde Method (Arc Process)

• The industrial production of nitric acid

from atmospheric air began in 1905
with the Birkeland–Eyde process, also
known as the Arc Process.
• It was developed by Norwegian
industrialist and scientist Kristian
Birkeland along with his business
partner Sam Eyde in 1903, based on a
method used by Henry Cavendish in
1784. A factory based on the process
was built in Rjukan and Notodden in
Norway, combined with the building of
large hydroelectric power facilities
Birkeland–Eyde Method (Arc Process)
• This process is based upon the oxidation of atmospheric nitrogen
by atmospheric oxygen to nitric oxide with a very high temperature
electric arc. Yields of up to approximately 4–5% nitric oxide were
obtained at 3000 °C, and less at lower temperatures.

• The Birkeland–Eyde process is relatively inefficient in terms of

energy consumption. Therefore, in the 1910s and 1920s, it was
gradually replaced in Norway by a combination of the Haber
process and the Ostwald process.
OSTWALD’S METHOD
• The method of preparation most commonly used for nitric
acid today was one invented in 1901 by the Russian-born
German chemist Friedrich Wilhelm Ostwald (1853–1932).
The Ostwald process involves the oxidation of ammonia over
a catalyst of platinum or a platinum-rhodium mixture.
Nitric Acid Production by Ostwald’S Process
Raw materials for Nitric Acid Production

• The Anhydrous Ammonia Gas

• Process Air

• Platinum-Rhodium gauzes catalyst

• Water
Nitric Acid Production Process
Ammonia Preparation Process Air Preparation
Nitric Acid Production Process
Ratio of ammonia to air Catalyst

Temperature and Pressure

Efficiency of Nitric Acid Production Process
Nitric Acid Production Process
Flow Chart of Ostwald’s Process
Flow Chart of Ostwald’s Process
Applications of Nitric Acid
Health Issues Related to Nitric Acid
 Nitric Acid usage and safety
• Minimize/eliminate use and storage of nitric acid whenever
possible.
• Develop a standard operating protocol (SOP), and include
details for waste practices.
• Have a separate SOP for Aqua Regia practices.
• Train all lab members and students on nitric acid practices.
• Always use inside a chemical fume hood and in proximity to
eyewash and safety shower stations.
• Avoid contact with skin, eyes, and clothing.
• Wear compatible gloves, safety goggles, and a lab coat.
• Containers should remain closed when not in use.
• Avoid contact with metals! Nitric acid is extremely corrosive
in the presence of aluminum, copper, and oxides and
attacks all base metals.
• Keep away from direct sunlight, sources of ignition,
combustible materials, and incompatible materials: alkali
metals, bases, reducing agents, cyanides, aldehydes, acetone,
powdered metals, ammonia, and acetic anhydride, acids, and
all organic materials including organic solvents.
• Store in glass containers that are secured, dry, cool
(<23'C/73.4'F) and clearly labeled.
• When diluting, always add acid to water.
• Use in the smallest practical quantities for the experiment
being performed.
• Make up concentrated solutions in amounts that will be used
up in the work shift/day.
• Inspect containers monthly for discoloration.
• Submit a Chemical Waste Collection Request for any discolored
nitric acid.
• Do not over purchase; only a minimum amount should be
stored in the laboratory.